The first player forces the puck carrier.1. Force player up the boards.2. Pressure pass to wall.3. Pressure D to D pass and quick up middle.4. Pinch on a Rim5. Support from strong side also lock on the middle forward if high in the slot..

Key Points:A turnover in the offensive end results in a scoring chance about 25% of the time while a nzone turnover gets a scoring chance about 10% and a rush from the defensive zone less than 5% of the time. So a passive trap may prevent goals against but doesn't create near as many scoring chances.

Pinch comes from both sides.On possession overload the puck side with weak side back door option.

Description:2-2-1 With Puck Behind the Net1. Force from original puck side.2. Pressure first low pass to other D.3. Pre pinch position on original puck side.4. Pre pinch position on weak side.5. Support from point and mirror the puck sideB. Overload Strong Side on Possession1. First 3 low players cycle and go to net.2. # 4 support from high slot and go back door3. #5 Support from strong side point.

Key Points:This is a great full ice transition game to practice offense and defense in all three zones. I have done this the last 2 practices with my team and my skills group. The coach can decide what to focus on each time you do it. Instead of stopping the game talk to the players when they come back to the line. You can do this from 1-1 to a 3-3. I will put a modification that adds other nuances to the game at another date.

Point men only get one second with the puck to shoot or pass. Defenders cover the low players and ignore the pointmen.

Description:A. 1 and 2 attack vs a and b and are supported on the blueline by 3 and 4 The pointmen cannot go farther than the top of the circle. When the puck goes to the point a and b control te sticks of 1 and 2.

B. When a and b breakout over the blueline 1 and 2 are finished and there is a 2 on 2 in the nzone with a and b attacking 3 and 4.C. After the puck crosses the blueline c and d support a and b from the point.

This is a great progression from the original transition game in the last posting. -----------------------------------------------------

DT100 - Defend-Attack with Regroups

Key Points:Attacking team regroup with the new supporting players on the coaches whistle.Supporting point men stay at the point and only get the puck for one second before passing or shooting. they defend the breakout. Coach may or may not whistle.

Description:1. 1 offense attack vs 2 on defense.2. Attackers get support from teammates 2.3. Breakout and attack 2-2 vs supporting point men.4. If the coach blows the whistle regroup with 3 who follow the play.Continue with 2 new players supporting each rush.6. #3 follow the play and supports from the blueline.7. Try to score vs 2 the original pointmen.

Options:The coach may blow the whistle to indicate a regroup. The offensive players pass back to the supporting players. They now line up behind the blue instead of red line. They may do a D to D or pass to the original players who should be on the wall and in the middle or maybe switching. Defenders must keep tight gaps instead of simply backing in.

If there is a turnover the defenders attack the other way vs the new supporting players.

This is a great transition game to practice cycling, low zone coverage and use all of the individual offensive and defensive skills of hockey.-------------------------------------------------------

DT400 - 3 on 3 Attack-Defend-Breakout-Rest

Key Points:Create offense by cycling, crossing etc. and play man to man defense. To add more intensity play a timed game and keep score or play to a certain amount of goals. i.e. first team to 3 wins.

Description:3 players attack and 3 defend (it could be any number or odd man situations)

The attacking team tries to score and the defending team must get it over the blue line in complete possession or the attack continues.

If the puck is dumped out it is a loose puck and the offense can regain it or defense make the pass.Offsides are called and the other team gets the puck.

The players on the defending team wait for the puck in the neutral .zone. If there is one game going on wait behind the red line. If two games or a half ice practice then wait within a stick length of the red line.

Rule modifications can be added in order to create situations. i.e. dump and chase, only forechand passes, only one timers etc.

Key Points:Skate in arch's to gain speed. Give a target and call for the pass.

Description:

Big HorseshoeSame thing happens on both sides1 leaves from opposite corners skating in an arch for a pass.2 passes to one and they exchange the puck.#1 shoots at each end while 2's gets a pass from 3's and go down the ice 2 on 0.=keep this flow on each side.

Key Points:Defender keeps D side and attacker pivots up and down the boards

Description:1. Players line up just outside the blue line.2. The player on the inside skates up and down the boards protecting the puck3. The defender mirrors the attacker on Dside.5. Defender stays Dside with stick on the puck and body on body, eyes on the chest.4. On the whistle the attacker tries to score.5. On the whistle repeat from the other side and original players switch sides.

Description:1. Half the team in diagonal corners and not behind the net. Leave when the first player gets to the blue line.2. Pivot 3 times between the red and blue lines, vary the type of skating and puck handling.3. Skate in and shoot hard.4. Follow the shot for a rebound.5. Circle back and go for a rebound on next shot.6. Go to the open corner.

*Add variations like carry puck only on forehand or backhand, face one way and only, pivot at each line, backwards etc.You could also start with a pass from second in line.

Key Points:The support can be either passive or active.Once the new players are in the neutral zone the original players go back to line; unless a regroup is added.

Description:DT100 formation along the boards in the nzone.

Start with a 1-1 and when the puck crosses the blue line each player gets support from the lineup on the boards. Various situation up to a 3-2. i.e. A 2-1 thru the nzone with the defender getting 2 andattacker 1supporting player makes a 2-1 in nzone and 3-3 at each end.

Change the supporting players to create various situations.Players learn to play in all situations offensive and defensive situations.The game can also be played using designated positions.

Description:1. Practice with no resistence and then send in players to create resistence. 2. You can practice even or odd man and with the goalie pulled.3. Use this technique to practice skills like cycling and add defenders.

Key Points:Tie up sticks in the slot, keep sticks in the passing lane and shin pads in front of the puck.When doing man on and box behind closest player is aggressive from the inside to the outside body on body and stick on the puck.

A. Play a tight box and one in the low slot area. Players can only move a few strides but stay in a tight 2-1-2 formation.

B. Closest defender pressure the puck right away while teammates form a box behind. When the puck is passed away drop to a corner of the box or take the player to the net. If the offense has three attackers cycling on one side D2 must move to that side and F2 drops to the hash marks to cover the front of the net

Key Points:Groups of 3 leave from diagonal corners, switch corners each time so the skating direction varies.

Description:1.One player from each corner leaves.2.Take a pass from the far corner and shoot and follow the shot for a rebound.3. Get another pass.4. Weave 3 times from blue to top of circles5. Fill near,middle and wide lanes aftercrossing red line with the puck.6. Shoot and follow the shot for a rebound.7. Circle back and go in with next shooter and rebound.

Vary the kind of weave skating, Call for passes, Do one rep in overspeed. Can start with only skate and shoot.

My women's team practiced with a midget AAA boy's team and Wally Kozak ran this game with many variations for about 20 minutes. The players loved it and worked really hard.--------------------------------------------------------------------

D200 Multiple Puck Games

Key Points:-Players can only shoot when the goalie is ready. -No empty net goals.-Hustle out of the zone on the whistle and play 20-30 seconds only. -Pass extra pucks to coach on the whistle.

Description:1. Players line up outside the blue lines.2. Coach shoots in 3 pucks.3. Players race for pucks and battle to score and defend.

Game Variations:a. Shoot in a new puck on a goal.b. Leave goals in the net and join team mates until only one puck is left.c. Players can shoot on either net.d. Send from 1 to 3 players to play. ie. 2 on 3 and coach put 2 pucks into play.

Back pressure allows the D to really play a tight gap on the attacker and stand up on him if you have an angle. The forward coming back can pick up the loose puck or a chip behind. Also if the attacker delays he is skating into the back pressure.

Some teams only back pressure thru the nzone and then peel off. I think it is best to create the defensive 2-1 and only peel off if you are out numbered. Creating offensive and defensive 2-1's is the key to the game.

Key Points:D1 play a good gap and F1 pursue from behind. If it is an odd number situation where another attacker is not covered then F1 and D1 communicate and F1 pick him up.

Key Points:Jokers can only pass or shoot and cannot join the attack. Defenders don't check the jokers but cover the pass receivers. To make it more gamelike the jokers must move when they get the puck instead of just standing there.

Description:Play cross ice with the extra players lines up on the sides.

Game OneJokers behind the offensive net must be passed to before shooting. Great for give and go as well as one timer practice.

Game TwoWhen the defending team gets the puck they must regroup with the jokers behind their net. Use one or two jokers and practice the breakout. Jokers may pass to each other.

Game ThreeJokers on the side can be passed to and must return the pass or shoot. This is great for puck support as well as the defenders covering pass receivers.

4. The iron cross. Forward-stop, left-stop, forward--stop, right-stop, back and take a shot.

5. Skate around the circle passing 3 times each way then shoot.

6. This is a practice I ran the other night with a small group. I don't have room on the diagram but we had 5 skaters and finished with a game of 2 on 2 in one zone and the extra player was a joker. When you regained the puck you have to regroup with the joker before scoring. Players rotate as the joker for a rest.